News Detail

12

Aug, 2017

A Guide To Start Volunteeing

Volunteering

The best way to get involved is to volunteer.
Little League relies on the hundreds of thousands of Little League
volunteers throughout the world to offer the opportunity for children
and families to forge lifelong memories, and have positive experiences
both on-and-off the field. Every local league needs committed
volunteers. If your son or daughter began playing Little League last
year, or your Little Leaguer is about to start next season, we encourage
you to attend your league’s fall and winter Board of Directors meetings.
Attending these Board meetings is the first, most important step in
getting involved. At these meetings, you’ll learn what volunteer
positions are needed in your league. Volunteers often help with
concession stand duties, field maintenance, fundraising, event planning,
communications, and coaching.

Be Active

At the Board meetings, ask questions
and offer your opinions and thoughts. Getting to better understand your
league’s operations is a learning process, and the best way to gain the
necessary knowledge is to communicate. As a new parent, you aren’t
expected to know everything, but your engagement and interest will
certainly be appreciated.

Board Positions

At a fall Board meeting, you may learn of
open Board positions for the following season. Having not been heavily
involved with a local league before is actually a positive, as you’ll be
able to bring new, fresh ideas to the table. So, do not let the lack of
years under your belt deter you from seeking a spot on your local
Board. There are all sorts of roles to fill where you could be a
valuable asset to your league. Board positions often consist of President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Player Agent, Safety Officer, Field Manager, Information Officer, Concession Stand Manager, and others.

Apprentice a Board Member

One of the reasons we encourage
new parents to immediately get involved in their league is because often
times, current Board members have kids ready to graduate from the
Little League program. When Board members transition out, it’s helpful
to have someone with experience ready to step in to make the change
seamless. If you choose not to seek a Board position for the upcoming
season, consider apprenticing a current Board member. Learn the
ins-and-outs of his or her responsibilities, and volunteer your time to
assist wherever needed. Before you know it, it may be your time to step
up as a Board member, so learn now. It will make your future
volunteering work that much easier.

The success of a league often depends on the number of devoted
volunteers it has. And everyone in the Little League family, no matter
how many years they’ve been a part of their local league, should find a
way to volunteer, especially ask new parents. Find the role that
interests you the most and that you can commit to, and raise your hand.
While you’ll find your volunteer work extremely worthwhile and
gratifying, it is the Little Leaguers who will benefit the most.